Dollar Tree DIY Upcycled Glam Designer Storage Tutorial: High-End Cardboard Box Makeover
Save a Ferrero Rocher box and a recycled cookie tin and upscale them into an embossed, high-end storage piece with custom gold legs.
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I no longer buy expensive storage bins since I discovered how to create a one-of-a-kind storage solutions by taking old packaging boxes from my recycling bin. This project is all about seeing potential in the unexpected—like the textured plastic trays found inside those yummy Ferrero chocolate boxes. By combining these "chocolate foil" sheets with a sturdy cardboard box and a few Dollar Tree gems, you can craft a sophisticated chest that looks like a high-end metal import.
📺 WATCH: See the entire box transformation here
Materials
Browse my curated list of Favorite Craft Supplies, Tools & Embellishments.
Large cardboard box (approximately 2.5 feet tall)
4 sets of textured plastic trays inside a large empty Ferrero Rocher acrylic chocolate boxes
Scrap cardboard or thin piece of scrap plywood for structural reinforcement
Specialty decorative craft paper or contact paper
White primer or white acrylic paint
Silver or gold metallic paint markers
Silver rhinestone gem trim
Silver beads and clear gems
Round framed mirror (Dollar Tree)
Assorted crystal gems and rhinestone trim
4 small plastic pots (St. Patrick’s Day themed from Dollar Tree) or similar to use as feet for the storage box
Tools
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Fix-All or E6000 adhesive
Sandpaper
Sharp craft knife or box cutter
Ruler and white marker for measuring
Dry paintbrush (for glue string removal)
💡 Sandy’s Crafting Tips & Hacks
The “Anti-Cling Wrap” Prep: If your box has a glossy finish, you must sand it down until the surface is dull. If you skip this, your paint won’t bond and may peel off in one giant sheet like cling wrap!
Tacky Over Hot Glue: Hot glue dries in thick clumps. For thin materials like the chocolate foil trays, use tacky glue. It allows the material to sit perfectly flush against the box and gives you time to slide the texture into the perfect position.
Structural Integrity Hack: Use extra strips of scrap cardboard to reinforce the corners and edges of your main box; this prevents warping and ensures the finished piece feels sturdy and high-end.
The Score-and-Snap Technique: You don’t need a saw for thin craft wood. Use a box cutter and a ruler to score a deep line several times. Once the groove is deep, you can easily snap the wood with your fingers for a clean, straight edge.
The Glue String Removal Hack: Keep your metallic surfaces and gems sparkling by using a dry paintbrush with soft bristles to sweep away messy hot glue webs once the glue has cooled.
The Invisible Joint Hack: Use a metallic paint marker that matches your trim to color any exposed cardboard edges or glue seams before applying your final embellishments.
Instructions
1. Prep and Paint the Canvas (Box): Sand the entire exterior of the cookie box and lid to remove the gloss. Apply three coats of gold metallic acrylic paint, letting each coat dry fully.
2. Add Embossed Texture: Measure and trim four Ferrero Rocher foil trays to fit the sides of your box. Apply tacky glue to the silver side and press them gold-side-up onto the box. Use the same glue to add a single row of silver rhinestone trim along the bottom edge for a mixed-metal contrast.
3. Reinforce the Base and Add Legs: Cut a piece of thin craft wood to fit the bottom of the box using the score-and-snap method. Secure it with wood glue. For the legs, paint four small plastic pots with a gold marker and embellish each with a silver gem. Use hot glue to attach the pots to the four corners of the wooden base.
4. Decorate the Lid: Trace your lid onto a gold placemat and cut it out, leaving enough overhang to fold over the sides. Use tacky glue on the top and hot glue to secure the side flaps. Wrap the edges of the lid in silver rhinestone trim to hide the seams.
5. The Mirror Medallion: Highlight a gold framed mirror with silver metallic marker lines along the ridges. Glue scrap foam pieces into the hollow back of the mirror to create a flat mounting surface, then hot glue the mirror to the center of the lid.
6. Final Details: Cover the corner seams of the box with a string of silver beads. This hides any gaps between the foil trays and pulls the entire silver-and-gold theme together.
Related Content & Resources
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Disclaimer: I’m not a professional. All my DIY’s are for entertainment purposes.